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Nasa successfully tests shapeshifting aircraft wings

Nasa has successfully tested a next-generation set of 'morphing' aircraft wings, which have the potential to save millions of dollars in fuel costs, as well as significantly reduce aircraft noise and the environmental impact of flying.

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The wing surface can shift shape mid flight, thanks to seamless bendable, twistable materials. The advanced lightweight materials used to build the flexible wings will not only reduce the weight of wing structures, but allow engineers to tailor them to improve fuel economy. Even better -- the technology can be retrofitted to existing aeroplanes. It is hoped that the technology will have far-reaching effects on the future of aviation.

Nasa researchers developed the technology in conjunction with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and a company called FlexSys. The testing has involved 22 research flights that have been completed over the last six months at the Armstrong Flight Research Centre in California. "We are thrilled to have accomplished all of our flight test goals without encountering any significant technical issues," said AFRL programme manager Pete Flick.

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Each test flight was conducted with the wing flaps fixed at specific angles, from -2 to 30 degrees. Although the wings have been designed to morph during flights, the tests were purposefully conducted at fixed settings in order to gather enough data to eliminate risk.

"These flights cap 17 years of technology maturation, beginning with AFRL's initial Phase 1 SBIR contract with FlexSys, and the technology now is ready to dramatically improve aircraft efficiency for the Air Force and the commercial aviation industry," said Flick.